Food product heating device with food heating slot between heating elements

ABSTRACT

A compact portable heating device adapted to heat multiple food products simultaneously is provided. The heating device includes at least one heating element positioned opposite at least one other heating element to form a slot between heating surfaces of the elements for receiving food product. One heating element is mounted to move linearly along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the heating surfaces. Preferably, a first set of movable heating elements are meshed with a second set of heating elements to form an alternating arrangement. One or more heat generators, e.g. steam generators, are positioned to provide heat while minimizing the size of the device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a heating device, and specifically, to asimple, compact heating device for simultaneously heating both sides ofone or more food products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the food preparation and service industries, there is an ongoing needfor more efficient and effective food preparation. Restaurants, hotels,and kitchens in a variety of establishments, are often required toproperly heat and/or cook many food products in a short amount of timeusing a limited amount of resources, such as kitchen space and staff.Improvements are desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the heatingdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1 with the product door inthe support position;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1 with the product door inthe drop position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with the housingremoved;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of one heating element connected to a steamgenerator;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the heating element taken alongplane 8-8 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 a is a perspective view of the product door of the heating deviceof FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 b is an end view of the product door of FIG. 9 a; and

FIG. 10 is a conceptual perspective view of an exemplary embodiment ofthe device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, an exemplary embodiment of the food productheating device of the present invention, indicated generally at 10,includes one or more heat generators 12, 14, multiple (two or more)heating elements 16 positioned adjacent one another to create at leastone heating slot 18 for receiving a food product 3 (FIG. 10), a movableproduct door 22 for supporting and controlling the position of the foodproduct, and a housing 24. The simple, compact device 10 effectively andefficiently heats and/or cooks multiple food products, such hamburgers,chicken cutlets, fish patties, vegetable burgers, or any other foodproduct capable of being positioned in slot 18 by simultaneouslyapplying heat to both sides of each food product. Heating device 10 isespecially effective in heating and/or cooking raw food products,whether frozen or not, and food products that have been previouslycooked and require reheating. Heating device 10 is a small, compact, andportable unit that effectively uses vertical space thereby occupying aminimum amount of horizontal space, e.g. counter area, and maximizingthe ratio of food product heated per square foot of horizontal spaceoccupied by the device. Therefore, device 10 can be conveniently movedand positioned in desired locations in an environment where space islimited.

As used herein, the terms heat, heated, and heating should be understoodto include the application of heat to the food product by heatingelements 16 regardless of the degree of heat transferred or the effecton the food product. Therefore, heating includes applying heat to a foodproduct using heating elements 16 so as to raise the temperature of,cook, thaw, warm, and/or sear the food product or products.

As shown in the FIGS. 1 and 3-5, in an exemplary embodiment, multipleheating elements 16 may include a first set or array of heating elements30 and a second set or array of heating elements 32. First set andsecond set of heating elements 30, 32, respectively, may be connected,e.g. mounted on or formed integral with, a first and a second heatgenerator 12, 14, respectively, for example, at one lower corner ofheating elements 30, 32 to form a first heating assembly 33 and a secondheating assembly 35, respectively. In this manner, each heat generatorprovides physical support to the respective set of heating elements.First heating assembly 33, comprising first set of heating elements 30and first heat generator 12, is movably mounted for sliding movementalong longitudinal axis 2 of device 10 on linear bearings 34 mountedinside housing 24. The second heating assembly 35, comprising second setof heating elements 32 and second heat generator 14, is stationary andfixedly mounted to housing 24. Housing 24 may include a rear section 25,side sections 27, a lower base 29, legs 31, and grease walls 45.

First set of heating elements 30 are meshed with second set of heatingelements 32 so as to overlap and alternate along the longitudinal axis 2(FIGS. 3, 4, and 10) of the device to form pairs of heating elementswhere each pair forms a heating slot 18 and includes one heating elementfrom first set of heating elements 30 and one heating element fromsecond set of heating elements 32. Once food product is loaded orinserted into slots 18, first heat assembly 33 is moved or shiftedlinearly and axially along the longitudinal axis 2 causing first set ofheating elements 30 to move closer to second set of heating elements 32to contact the food product and enable heating. Preferably both opposingheating elements defining a particular heating slot contact respectivesides of the food product to optimize heating. Of course a single slot18 may receive more than one food product, such as two or more hot dogs.

Each heating element 16 of the first and second set of heating elements30, 32, may include a platen or plate 36 and a back portion 38 connectedto or formed on plate 36 to create an inner chamber 40. The chambers 40may be capable of withstanding a maximum internal pressure of, forexample, 250 psi. Preferably, each plate 36 includes a generally flat orplanar heating surface 47 so that the opposing flat heating surfaces ofadjacent plates 36 are positioned adjacent and generally parallel to oneanother to partially form slots 18. Of course, the heating surfaces mayhave a predetermined shape, such as a slightly concave shape or beprovided with formations, such as ridges or grooves. The plates 36 arespaced in the loading position to form slots 18 of a sufficient size(width) to receive a food product of a particular size between heatingelements 16 for heating on both sides of the food product simultaneouslyby direct contact with opposite plates 36. Back portions 38 may beconnected to respective plates 36 by welding. Each plate 36 and backportion 38, and thus inner chamber 40, includes an extension section,indicated generally at 39, with a connection chamber 49 positioned atone corner and extending to fluidly connect with respective heatgenerators 12, 14. The extension section 39 extends through, and isconnected to, the respective grease wall 45. The grease wall 45, on theside of the device having the first heating assembly 33, therefore moveswith the first heating assembly. Preferably, the connection surroundingeach extension 39 and the respective grease wall 45 is sealed to preventgrease and fluids from reaching the heat generators.

Each heating element 16 is positioned so that the opposing heatingsurfaces 47 extend transverse to, i.e. greater than 45 degrees from, thehorizontal support surface supporting the device, i.e. the surface onwhich legs 31 are positioned. Preferably, heating surfaces 47 arepositioned substantially vertical, that is, vertical or at an angle ofless than 45 degrees from a vertical plane, regardless of the angle ofthe support surface, so that slots 18 are also positioned substantiallyvertical, and in series along the longitudinal axis 2 of device 10. As aresult, slots 18, and heating surfaces 47, are positioned substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 of device 10, and any generallyflat surface on which the device 10 is supported.

The width of slots 18 can be adjusted to accommodate different sizedfood product using an adjustment mechanism 70 to permit selectiveadjustment of the extent of the linear movement of first heatingassembly 33 to the left in FIG. 6 to define the position of the assemblyalong the longitudinal axis when in the heating position therebydefining the width of each heating slot 18. In the exemplary embodiment,adjustment stop mechanism 70 includes a knob 72, a rotatable shaft 74connected to the knob at one end, and a stop wheel 76 connected to anopposite end of shaft 74. Stop wheel 76 includes a plurality of stops orprotrusions 78 extending axially from, and positioned annularly around,one side of stop wheel 76 for contact by a bracket 80 fixedly attachedto movable first heating assembly 33. Each of protrusions 78 extend fromstop wheel 76 a different distance to create a different axial endingposition of the first heating assembly 33 in the heating position. Auser simply rotates knob 72 to a present position to create a particularstop position corresponding to a desired heating slot width. A biasspring 82 is mounted between a portion of housing 24 and bracket 80 tobias bracket 80 and thus first heating assembly 33 toward the heatingposition as limited by an aligned protrusion 78. Of course, adjustmentstop mechanism 70 may be any manual or automated device includingmechanical and/or electronic device capable of providing a limit to theaxial position of the assembly 33. For example, in an alternativeembodiment, adjustment stop mechanism 70 may include sensors for sensingthe size of the food product and an automated adjustment system toadjust the position of plates 36 and/or assembly 33 to obtain thedesired heating slot width.

First and second support manifolds 41, 43 extend along the top of arespective set of plates 36 associated with first and second heatingelements 30, 32, respectively. Manifolds 41, 43 are hollow tubes thatconnect the chambers 40 of the respective set of heating elementsassociated with the respective heating assemblies 33, 35. As shown inFIG. 7, the steam from one chamber is fluidly connected to therespective manifold via a branch passage 37 and thus connected to allother chambers of the heating elements in the respective first or secondset of heating elements. Since the manifolds are positioned at or near ahigh point in the system, each manifold 41, 43 includes a removable endcap that can be used to bleed air from the system and to add condensateto the system. Thus all chambers 40 of first set of heating elements 30are commonly connected to both heat generator 12 and manifold 41 andalso interconnected to one another via manifold 41 via branch passages37, while all chambers 40 of second set of heating elements 30 arecommonly connected to heat generator 14 and manifold 43 and alsointerconnected via manifold 43 and respective branch passages 37.

Each heat generator 12, 14 may be preferably a steam generator capableof containing a condensate/liquid, such as water, and generating steam.Each heat generator 12, 14 may include a condensate housing or manifold42 and a heater 44, such as an electric heater, positioned insidecondensate housing 42 for heating the condensate. Steam generated ineach housing 42 flows upwardly into the various respective chambers 40of the respective set of heating elements 30, 32, thereby providing heatto plates 36. The steam provides heat to plates 36 and the food product,causing the steam to condense to a liquid which then drains back tohousing 42. Thus in the present exemplary embodiment, the mounting ofheat generators 12, 14 on housing 24 creates an integral, self-containedunit with a closed steam system, needing only a source of electricity.In another exemplary, although less preferred, embodiment, one or moreheat generators may be external to the device and, for example, steamprovided to chambers 40 by external piping connected to a respectivemanifold mounted in place of heat generators 12, 14.

Heating device 10 may also include a product door 22 slidably mounted onhousing 24 below first and second heating elements 30, 32 forshifting/sliding movement between a support position shown in FIG. 3 anda drop position shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, productdoor 22 includes a top surface 60 and a series of elongated exitopenings 62 intermittently spaced along the longitudinal extend of door22 and extending through top surface 60 for allowing food product tofall from slots 18. Product door 22 also includes a series of drainholes 64 extending through top surface 60 and positioned in alternatingfashion with exit openings 62 along the longitudinal axis of device 10for permitting fluid run-off, such as grease, from the food product toflow from the slots 18 to a grease pan 65 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Product door22 also includes a series of grease baffles 96 positioned under thedrain holes 64 and between exit openings 62. Each grease baffle 96includes side walls 97, and a bottom wall 98 having a middle portionclose to the top surface 60 and sloping downwardly and transversely awayfrom the top surface 60 on each side before terminating to form anopening 95 on each side for fluid flow. Fluids, such as water andgrease, flowing through drain holes 64 is captured by each baffle 96 anddirected transversely outwardly to the opening 95 at each side. Thefluid then falls by gravity downwardly through a grease path 99 (FIG. 2)formed on both sides of the removable product tray 66 between the trayand grease walls 45, thereby advantageously avoiding collection in tray66 and contact with any food product.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the support position, with product door 22 pushedinwardly, drain holes 64 are aligned with slots 18 to allow product door22 to support a food product during insertion and heating of the foodproduct while permitting fluids, such as grease, to flow out of slots 18to grease pan 65. In the support position, exit openings 62 arepositioned out of alignment with slots 18 and directly under a heatingelement. As shown in FIG. 4, in the drop position, with product door 22pulled outwardly, drain holes 64 are moved out of alignment withrespective slots 18 and exit openings 62 are each positioned inalignment with slots 18 to cause the heated/cooked food product to fallby gravity onto a receiving tray 66 for removal by sliding tray 66outwardly. In alternative embodiments, the product door may be eitherone door that pivots along an axis on one side of the assembly or twodoors that pivot along respective axes extending along each side of theassembly. In lieu of manual operation, the unit may be provided with alinear actuator 85 connected to the product door 22 via a linkage 87 forautomatic control of product door 22 based on a heating cycle ofoperation. Also, a removal assistance mechanism may be provided to placea force on the food product to aid in the removal of the food productfrom the slot.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, first heating assembly 33 may be mounted andarranged to be moved manually along linear bearings 34 by a user or,preferably, automatically moved by operation of a linear actuator 90,such as an electric motor and drive assembly, such as a screw typedrive, or a solenoid actuator. In the exemplary embodiment, spring 82 iscompressed when first heating assembly 33 is moved by an automaticactuator, i.e. linear actuator 34, away from the heating elements of theother heating assembly 35 into a loading position (to the right in FIG.6). A shaft 92 of linear actuator 34 abuts a lower portion of agenerator support 94. Then, upon deactivation of linear actuator 34, andreverse movement of the shaft 92 of linear actuator 34, first heatingassembly 33 is moved back into the heating position against the foodproduct by spring 82. Of course, more than one spring 82 may be used.

Electronic controls 50 may be provided for on/off control of heaters 44together or independently, automatic operation of the linear actuator 90to control axial movement of heating assembly 33, and automaticoperation of product door 22, for example, by linear actuator 85. Forexample, all functions needed to complete a heating cycle may bepreprogrammed in the electronic controls 50 and initiated by activationof a single button by a user.

During operation, the unit is turned on to cause heater 44 to beginheating the condensate. An indicator, such as a light, may be providedto indicate when the unit has reached a predetermined temperature and isready for heating operation. A user may initiate the unit by activatinga load button to cause the automatic controls 50 to move the firstheating assembly 33 into the loading position and the product door tomove into the support position. Food product is then placed in slots 18and the cycle can continue by, for example, the user actuating anotherswitch to initiate a heating cycle, such as selecting a preset heatingor cook time. The cycle may include the linear/axial shifting or slidingmovement of first heating assembly 33 toward second set of heatingelements 32 to contact the food product, preferably on both sides. Aftera desired period of time determined by the user manually or by thepreset automatic control, product door 22 is automatically moved intothe drop position and then the first heating assembly 33 is movedlinearly/axially away from second set of heating elements 32 and awayfrom the food product allowing the food to drop by gravity ontoreceiving tray 66 for removal by a user.

Thus heating device 10 includes a series of heating elements orientedvertically and connected directly to a steam generating device(s). Halfof the heating elements are connected together via the heat generatorand are allowed to travel side to side as a group by way of linearbearings and a linear actuator device. Food product is loaded into thedevice from the top. The food is held in place by a sliding product doorat the bottom and the traveling group of heating elements is moved intoa heating position, thus allowing food product to be heated and/orcooked quickly on both sides. When heating and/or cooking is complete,the traveling group of heating elements is moved out of the heatingposition into a loading position, the sliding product door moved into adrop or open position, and the food product removed from the bottom ofthe unit.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a heating device maybe provided with only two opposing heating elements. In this case, thefirst heating element includes a heating surface extending transverserelative to the support surface while a second heating element includesa heating surface extending transverse relative to the support surfaceand positioned a spaced distance from the first heating element tocreate a heating slot sized to receive at least one food product. Thefirst heating element is mounted to move linearly, along a longitudinalaxis substantially perpendicular to the heating surfaces, and throughthe opening stroke away from the second heating element into the loadingposition and through the closing stroke toward the second heatingelement into the heating position.

While various embodiments in accordance with the present invention havebeen shown and described, it is understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. The present invention may be changed, modified andfurther applied by those skilled in the art. Therefore, this inventionis not limited to the detail shown and described previously, but alsoincludes all such changes and modifications.

1. A food heating device adapted to be positioned on a support surfaceto heat a food product, comprising: at least one first heating elementhaving a heating surface extending transverse relative to the supportsurface; at least one second heating element having a heating surfaceextending transverse relative to the support surface and positioned aspaced distance from said at least one first heating element to create aheating slot sized to receive at least one food product; and a productdoor movably mounted below said heating slot, said product door adaptedto move between a support position to support the food product in saidheating slot and a drop position to permit the food product to drop fromsaid heating slot, wherein said at least one first heating element ismounted to move linearly, along a longitudinal axis substantiallyperpendicular to said heating surfaces, and through an opening strokeaway from said at least one second heating element into a loadingposition and a closing stroke toward said at least one second heatingelement into a heating position.
 2. The heating device of claim 1,wherein said at least one first heating element and said at least onesecond heating element are both adapted to contact the food product whensaid at least one first heating element is in said heating position. 3.The heating device of claim 1, further including a linear actuatoradapted to move said at least one first heating element through saidopening stroke.
 4. The heating device of claim 3, further including atleast one spring adapted to move said at least one first heating elementthrough said closing stroke.
 5. The heating device of claim 1, whereinsaid product door is slidably mounted for linear movement.
 6. Theheating device of claim 1, wherein said product door includes at leastone drain hole to permit run-off liquid from the food product to flowthrough the product door when the product door is in said supportposition.
 7. The heating device of claim 6, further including areceiving tray positioned below said product door to receive foodproduct dropping from said heating slot, and a grease pan positionedbelow said receiving tray, said product door further including a liquidrun-off baffle positioned below said at least one drain hole to directliquid run-off from the food product to said grease pan while avoidingsaid receiving tray.
 8. The heating device of claim 1, further includinga first heat generator mounted on a first side of the food heatingdevice to provide heat to said at least one first heating element and asecond heat generator mounted on a second side of the food heatingdevice to provide heat to said at least one second heating element. 9.The heating device of claim 1, further including at least one steamgenerator mounted adjacent at least one of said at least one first andsaid at least one second heating elements, wherein each heating elementof both said at least one first and said at least one second heatingelements includes an inner chamber fluidly connected to said at leastone steam generator to receive steam from said at least one steamgenerator.
 10. The heating device of claim 1, wherein said at least onefirst heating element includes a plurality of first heating elements andsaid at least one second heating element includes a plurality of secondheating elements, said plurality of first heating elements and saidplurality of second heating elements positioned in an alternatingarrangement with at least one of said plurality of first heatingelements positioned between two of said plurality of second heatingelements.
 11. The heating device of claim 10, wherein at least two ofsaid plurality of first heating elements are each positioned between twoof said plurality of second heating elements to form multiple heatingslots, each of said heating slots formed by one of said plurality offirst heating elements on one side and one of said plurality of secondheating elements on another side.
 12. The heating device of claim 11,wherein said plurality of alternating first and second heating elementsextend along said longitudinal axis of the heating device, saidplurality of alternating first and second heating elements eachincluding an inner chamber, further including an elongated first steamgenerator mounted on a first side of the food heating device, extendingalong said longitudinal axis, and fluidly connected to said innerchamber of each of said plurality of first heating elements to providesteam to said plurality of first heating elements, and an elongatedsecond steam generator mounted on a second side of the food heatingdevice, extending along said longitudinal axis, and fluidly connected tosaid inner chamber of each of said plurality of second heating elementsto provide steam to said plurality second heating elements.
 13. Theheating device of claim 1, further including an adjustable stop toadjust a position of said at least one first heating element in saidheating position to controllably define a width of said heating slot.14. The heating device of claim 9, wherein said at least one firstheating element and said at least one steam generator are mounted forlinear movement along said longitudinal axis during said opening andclosing strokes.
 15. The heating device of claim 14, where said at leastone first heating element and said at least one steam generator arerigidly connected to move together during said opening and closingstrokes.
 16. The heating device of claim 12, further including a firstmanifold fluidly connected to each of the inner chambers of saidplurality of first heating elements, and a second manifold fluidlyconnected to each of the inner chambers of said plurality of secondheating elements.
 17. A compact portable heating device adapted to heatmultiple food products simultaneously, comprising: a support; a firstset of heating elements connected to the support and positioned along alongitudinal axis, each heating elements of said first set of heatingelements having a heating surface positioned transverse to saidlongitudinal axis; a second set of heating elements positioned alongsaid longitudinal axis, each of said heating elements of said second setof heating elements having a heating surface positioned transverse tosaid longitudinal axis, said second set of heating elements positionedin an alternating arrangement with said first set of heating elements,wherein at least two of said first set of heating elements are eachpositioned between and adjacent to two heating elements of said secondset of heating elements to form multiple heating slots, wherein saidfirst set of heating elements and the support are movably mounted tomove together along the longitudinal axis through an opening stroke intoa loading position enlarging a size of said heating slot, and to movetogether along the longitudinal axis through a closing stroke into aheating position reducing the size of said heating slot.
 18. The heatingdevice of claim 17, further including a linear actuator adapted to movesaid first set of heating elements and the support linearly along saidlongitudinal axis through said opening stroke.
 19. The heating device ofclaim 18, further including at least one spring adapted to move saidfirst set of heating elements and the support through said closingstroke.
 20. The heating device of claim 17, further including a productdoor movably mounted below said heating slots, said product door adaptedto move between a support position to support the food product in saidheating slots and a drop position to permit the food product to dropfrom said heating slots, said product door being slidably mounted forlinear movement along said longitudinal axis.
 21. The heating device ofclaim 20, wherein said product door includes at least one drain hole topermit run-off liquid from the food product to flow through the productdoor when the product door is in said support position, furtherincluding a receiving tray positioned below said product door to receivefood product dropping from said heating slots, and a grease panpositioned below said receiving tray, said product door furtherincluding a liquid run-off baffle positioned below said at least onedrain hole to direct liquid run-off from the food product to said greasepan and away from said receiving tray.
 22. The heating device of claim17, further including at least one heat generator adapted to supply heatto said first and said second sets of heating elements.
 23. The heatingdevice of claim 22, wherein said at least one heat generator includes afirst heat generator mounted on a first side of the food heating deviceto provide heat to said first set of heating elements and a second heatgenerator mounted on a second side of the food heating device to provideheat to said second set of heating elements.
 24. The heating device ofclaim 23, wherein said first and said second heat generators are steamgenerators, each heating element of said first and said second sets ofheating elements including an inner chamber fluidly connected to saidfirst and said second heat generators, respectively.
 25. The heatingdevice of claim 17, further including an adjustable stop to adjust aposition of said first set of heating elements to controllably define awidth of said heating slots in said heating position.
 26. The heatingdevice of claim 22, wherein said first set of heating elements and saidat least one heat generator are mounted for linear movement along saidlongitudinal axis during said opening and closing strokes.
 27. Theheating device of claim 24, further including a first manifold fluidlyconnected to each of the inner chambers of said first set of heatingelements, and a second manifold fluidly connected to each of the innerchambers of said second set of heating elements, to permit fluid flowbetween the inner chambers the heating elements within each of saidfirst and said second sets of heating elements.
 28. The heating deviceof claim 17, further including a heat generator adapted to supply heatto said first set of heating elements, wherein the support is providedby the heat generator.
 29. The heating device of claim 17, wherein eachof said heating slots is formed by a heating surface of one of saidfirst set of heating elements on one side and a heating surface of oneof said second set of heating elements on an opposite side; and whereinopposing heating surfaces of the first and the second set of heatingelements defining each heating slot contact the food product in theheating slot when said first set of heating elements are in said heatingposition.